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Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide based therapeutics.
L Chen1, R Petrelli, K Felczak
1Center for Drug Design, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA.
Current Medicinal Chemistry
|March 14, 2008
Summary
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) plays diverse cellular roles beyond redox reactions. Targeting NAD metabolism offers a promising therapeutic strategy for diseases from cancer to aging.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Nicotinamide adenine dinucleucleotide (NAD) is crucial for redox reactions and cellular signaling.
- NAD metabolism involves biosynthesis, salvage, and utilization pathways, implicated in various diseases.
- NAD-dependent enzymes are increasingly recognized as therapeutic targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the therapeutic potential of targeting NAD metabolism.
- To highlight research opportunities in NAD-based therapeutics.
- To discuss the current stage of NAD-therapeutics development.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of NAD metabolism and NAD-based therapeutics.
- Analysis of NAD-dependent enzymes and their roles in disease.
- Examination of small molecules targeting NAD pathways.
Main Results:
- NAD is involved in signal transduction, DNA repair, and protein modifications.
- Dysregulation of NAD metabolism is linked to numerous diseases.
- Structurally diverse molecules targeting NAD pathways are in development, with some in clinical trials.
Conclusions:
- NAD-based therapeutics represent a novel and promising treatment avenue for various medical conditions.
- Further research in structural, biological, and medical aspects is essential for advancing NAD-therapeutics.
- The field is analogous to early protein kinase inhibitor development, suggesting significant future potential.
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